As you gear up for New Year’s resolutions, here’s one way of looking at it…
It may get you through the day but probably not the year.
So, how is your 2009 “To Do” list really coming? It seems like many of us are a bit frozen, still trying to make sense of what happened in 2008 and not sure what steps to take for 2009.
Jim Collins shared a thought in his book Good To Great that may help get us moving:
Most of us lead busy but undisciplined lives. We have ever expanding “to do” lists, trying to build momentum by doing, doing, doing – and doing some more. And it rarely works. Those who built great companies (or relationships, families, or churches) made as much use of a “stop doing” list as a “to do” list. They displayed a remarkable discipline to unplug all sorts of extraneous junk. [source]
If something in your life for 2009 isn’t tightly aligned with who God is calling you, your family, or your church to be then it’s extraneous junk. Maybe the best strategy for the year is to get rid of the junk by making a “stop doing” list that’s as long as our “to do” list.
Good stuff. Totally reminds me of what I read and reposted to my blog from one of my favorite bloggers (aka my woman):
Don’t Just Do – BE
http://thirdplaceconsulting.blogspot.com/2008/12/dont-just-do-be.html
Thanks Michael…keeping the “being” issues in mind takes real work and accountability…like an in tune spouse!
I’ve been reading down through the blog today and thought I would pause to comment! I’m sitting at the “Office” (aka Barnes and Noble) working on my To Do and Stop To Doing lists, when I’m not reading the blogs I’ve been neglecting lately!
I’m getting ready to read Outliers and Talent is Overrated. The premise of each is that natural talent doesn’t make a world class whatever (with a few musical exceptions such as Mozart). What makes the difference is 10,000 hours of deliberate, intentional practice. That has convicted me for the new year. I have hours — we all do — but am I being intentional in how I use them? What am I actually becoming an expert in? What would I rather?
That’s my To Do list for 2009.
Marla,
I missed you around here. I hope all is well.
As always, well said. What an important question…what am I an expert in?
Not to rain on the parade, but the point that we are “all expert in something” has the same ring as, “…Lake Wobegon, where all the children are above-average”. Yes, I understand each of us is unique, and that with practice we can/should become an expert in something. I lump that in; “With just (fill in the blank) all Americans can attain their ideal weight”.
Maybe that’s just the thoughts of a aging grain buyer, where doing anything other than your best can financially kill you, I dunno. I worry that while the social gospel of striving to be an expert has it’s good points, but I have seen more cases where it has lead to an unwarrented feeling of inadequacy, a uneasy sense of need to be busy, a down valuing of contemplative time-outs, and an overvaluing of self-esteem.
Whew! boy that sound harsh! Maybe, I’m just taking the whole “expert” thing the wrong way.
Bob, I totally understand what you are saying. And you are right…there is an inherent danger in the whole concept of striving to become “the best.” It’s easy to fall prey to the American Dream…to forget the Kingdom Dream. So much depends on what the dream is, doesn’t it? And under whose dominion?
And yet, I still hold to the idea that we are designed to want to accomplish goals. We want to make a difference, to matter, to realize that God’s kingdom is fertile soil and we have a bag of seeds. I believe that each one of us is empowered to go out and make that difference. But it is so easy to get caught up in the day to day drudgery, or even day to day delights, and forget to strive, forget to wonder, forget the bag of seeds. That was my point. I don’t want to get to the end of my journey with a bag of seeds that I left unsown simply because I diffused my energy and forgot to wonder what I could do with them. If it takes 10,000 hours of concerted effort to get good enough to make a difference, then I’m gonna put in the time!
You weren’t harsh, Bob. You raise a good point. Good discussion.
I’m a little late weighing in here…
I think we all want to be all God’s called us to be. I’m learning, and coaching churches as well, that you can only be your best in those areas that align with how God’s uniquely gifted you.
Trying to be the best is different than trying to be your best. Comparing and competing only leads to burn out. But we can only be our best if we know how God has gifted us and say no to those things that distract.
I’ve never forgotten this line from Covey’s “Seven Habits” book back in the 90′s:
“It’s easy to say no when there’s a deeper burning yes within you”
We must prayerfully discern our deeper burning yes.